Saturday

The weather up here is kind of grey today, not sunny, not rainy ,not cold, just grey, which isn’t too bad really. I’m knackered this morning after a late finish with the 4x last night, then a bit of internetting, I finally climbed into bed only to be woken at 3am by my new room mate. I presumed he had brought a buffalo back with him because not only was something grunting, crashing, banging and generally making one hell of a racket, but also vomiting and defecating everywhere. The beast collapsed in the bathroom, but there was no chance of sleep, the smell was horrendous even with the windows fully open.

Anyway, those people who didn’t spend the night with a bison seemed to be enjoying themselves at the Worlds village. There was downhill practise from 8.00-10.30am with nearly everybody doing runs, tweaking their lines and maybe trying new settings. Merv (Sam Hills dad) told us his boy had found some new lines in the top section, which isn’t a surprise really. Peaty still looks a touch uncomfortable with his foot and the Atherton family have been going top bananas, that means fast by the way.

Mike Rose talks tactics with big Merv and Ollie

By the afternoon most racers had retired to their rooms for some R and R, so the huge downhill crowd just mooched around picking up freebies, checking out the Trials champs, watching a bit of XC and pinching badges from the Dirt stand.

Gracia has been wandering around with a fresh cast on his wrist after breaking it at the 4x last night, he said its’ smashed like potatoes’.

Lopes and Kintner are wandering around with big grins on their faces, and shiny medals in their pockets.

Rennie is on the Steve Peat stall flogging own brand whiskey.

There’s a huge buzz of anticipation buzzing around making buzzing noises about tomorrows downhill final, there’s even talk of rain, yippee.

the tartan army

The need for speed

Retro baby